Power converting device

ABSTRACT

A power converting device includes a main body having a heat producing part housed therein, a fan case having a cooling fan therein for cooling the heat producing part provided in the main body, and a housing portion in the main body which houses the fan case. The fan case and the housing portion are interconnected so that the fan case is pivotally attached to and detached from the housing portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT

The present invention relates to a power converting device which encloses a cooling fan in a main body housing of a heat producing device, and in particular, relates to a power converting device in which it is possible to easily replace the cooling fan.

As this kind of power converting device, there is known an inverter with, for example, a heat producing device housed inside a main body, and a cooling fan for cooling. The fan includes a fan unit case which houses the cooling fan. A housing space is formed in an external side of an upper surface of the inverter device main body, and such that the fan unit case can be slid into and housed therein. A fan cover which fixes the fan unit case in place, is fixed to the fan unit case without screwing by a pawl, and in such a way that the fan unit case can be inserted and removed from the fan unit case housing space by sliding it backwards and forwards (for example, refer to JP-A-2007-325383).

However, with the heretofore known example described in JP-A-2007-325383, although it slidably holds the fan unit case detachably in the main body, there is an unresolved problem in that, a separate fan retaining cover is necessary along with a guide member to prevent the cover from falling vertically down. This renders the structure undesirably complex.

The invention has been contrived bearing in mind the unresolved problem of the heretofore known example, and is directed to providing a power converting device wherein it is possible, with a simple configuration, to easily attach and detach a fan case, in which a cooling fan is mounted, to and from a main body, without the need of a separate fixing member.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the heretofore described object, a power converting device according to one aspect of the invention, includes a heat producing part housed inside a main body, and a cooling fan which cools the heat producing part provided in the main body. A housing portion which houses a fan case, in which the cooling fan is disposed, is formed in the main body. The fan case and the housing portion are provided with connection features which allow it to be mounted so as to be pivotal with respect to and therefore readily attachable to, and detachable from the housing portion.

According to this configuration, as the fan case in which the cooling fan is disposed, is, in one embodiment, hingedly mounted so as to be attachable to, and detachable from the housing portion of the main body, it is possible, with a simple configuration, to easily carry out attachment and detachment of the fan case to and from the housing portion of the main body.

Also, with the power converting device according to this aspect of the invention, it is preferable that a hinge portion is formed on one side surface of the fan case, a flexible lock portion or feature is formed on another side surface opposing the hinge portion, hook portions or features, which pivotally hold the hinge portion, are formed on one side surface of the housing portion, and a fitting portion in which the lock portion fits is formed on a side surface opposing the hook portions.

With this configuration, is possible to achieve a locked condition by inserting the hinge portion of the fan case in the hock portion of the housing portion and, in this condition, fitting the lock portion in the fitting portion. This, therefore, makes it possible to reliably secure the fan case in the main body without providing a separate fixing cover, or the like.

Also, with the power converting device according to another embodiment of the invention, it is preferable that an engagement portion has a supporting member including a projecting plate portion parallel to the top surface of the fan case; a vertical plate portion extending upward from a free end of the projecting plate portion, and rib portions sandwiching the supporting member, formed on one side surface of the fan case, and a flexible lock portion formed on another side surface opposing the engagement portion. The engagement portion is engaged and held on one side surface of the housing portion, and a fitting portion in which the lock portion fits, is formed on a side surface opposite that side surface.

With this embodiment, it is possible to achieve a locked condition by forming the engagement portion of the supporting member and rib portions, engaging and holding the engagement portion on a side surface of the main body, and fitting the lock portion in the fitting portion formed in the housing portion of the main body. This renders it possible to reliably fix the fan case in the main body without providing a separate fixing cover, or the like.

According to these embodiments of the invention, as the fan case in which the cooling fan is disposed, is pivotal during attachment to, and detachment from the housing portion of the main body housing heat producing part of power converting device, an advantage is obtained in that, as well as it being possible to simplify the overall configuration, with no need for a separate fixing cover, or the like, it is possible to easily carry out attachment and detachment of the fan case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a first embodiment of a power converting device according to one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a housing portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a housing position of a fan case of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a condition in which the fan case of FIG. 3 is pivoted;

FIG. 5 is a perspective top view of the fan case;

FIG. 6 is a perspective bottom view of the fan case;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fan case showing a second embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a mounting of the fan case of the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, a description will be given, based on the drawings, of embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an inverter device acting as a power converting device. In this drawing, numeral 1 is the inverter device acting as the power converting device, and includes a main body 2 in which is housed a switching element, such as an IGBT, as a heat producing member. The main body 2 has a configuration wherein front and rear case half-bodies 2A and 2B are connected together, and air intake vents 3 are formed in both of the case half-bodies 2A ad 2B.

An operation display module 4, with which various kinds of operation, settings, and data are displayed, is provided in the front case half-body 2A. Also, a fan housing portion 5 is formed over the whole of the top surface, in an uppermost portion, of the rear case half-body 2B. A fan case 7, in which is mounted a cooling fan 6, is attachably and detachably disposed in the fan housing portion 5 with a hinge mechanism 8.

The fan housing portion 5 is configured of left and right side walls 2 a and 2 b of the case half-body 2B, and a depressed portion 2 c formed between them. Hook portions 12, which form hinge receiving grooves 11 extending in a front-back direction and form the hinge mechanism 8, are disposed in the front-back direction, at a predetermined interval, on the left side wall 2 a, as shown in FIG. 2. Also, a fitting portion 13, in which is fitted a lock portion of the fan case 7, to be described hereafter, is formed in the right side wall 2 b, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and a lock release opening 14 is formed passing from the fitting portion 13 through to a right side surface side.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the fan case 7 is formed of a rectangular frame portion 21, and a top surface plate portion 22 which closes off the top surface of the rectangular frame portion 21. The rectangular frame portion has an open bottom surface. A supporting plate portion 23 with an L-shaped cross-section, has a projecting plate portion 23 a projecting leftward and a vertical plate portion 23 b extending upward from a free end of the projecting plate portion 23 a, is formed on a left side surface plate 21 a of the rectangular frame portion 21. A hinge shaft 24, which engages with the hinge receiving grooves 11 of the hook portions 12 configuring the hinge mechanism 8 formed in the fan housing portion 5 of the main body 2, is formed on the top end of the vertical plate portion 23 b of the supporting plate portion 23. Also, a flexible lock portion 25 with a U-shaped cross-section, whose top end is open, is formed on a right side surface plate 21 b of the rectangular frame portion 21. Furthermore, a plurality of rib portions 26, which maintain strength, are formed parallel to each other extending in a vertical direction on the back surface side of the lock portion 25, as shown in FIG. 6.

Vent holes 27 according to the shape of the cooling fan 6 are formed in the top surface plate portion 22, as shown in FIG. 5. The cooling fan 6 is mounted on the interior side of the vent holes 27, as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, by fitting the lock portion 25 into the fitting portion 13 of the housing portion 5 and pushing it in, and then by causing the fan case 7 to pivot, with the hinge shaft 24 as a center of rotation, in a condition in which its hinge shaft 24 is engaged inside the hinge receiving grooves 11 of the hook portions 12 formed in the housing portion 5, the lock portion 25 is fitted into the fitting portion 13 while bending, and secures the fan case 7 in position.

Next, a description will be given of an operation of the heretofore described embodiment.

Under normal conditions, the fan case 7 in which the cooling fan 6 is mounted is mounted in the fan housing portion 5 formed in the upper portion of the case half-body 2B configuring the main body 2, in a state in which the hinge shaft 24 is engaged in the hinge receiving grooves 11 of the hook portions 12 of the housing portion 5, and the lock portion 25 is fitted into the fitting portion 13 of the housing portion 5, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. An IGBT, or the like, which is an internal heat producing part, is cooled by the cooling fan 6 when driven to rotate.

In the event of replacing the cooling fan 6 in this condition, a supply of power to an inverter circuit configured of the internal IGBT, or the like, is stopped, the U-shaped lock portion 25 is depressed by inserting the tip of a tool such as a screwdriver into the lock release opening 14, causing the fitting of the lock portion 25 in the fitting portion 13 to be disengaged, and in this condition, the fan case 7 is pivoted upward centered on the hinge shaft 24, as shown in FIG. 4, by gripping, for example, the side surfaces thereof.

In this state, by disengaging the hinge shaft 24 from the hinge receiving grooves 11 of the hook portions 12, it is possible to remove the fan case 7 from the housing portion 5. Then, the cooling fan 6 exposed from the rear surface side of the removed fan case 7 is disengaged from the fan case 7 by removing a locking screw, or removing a mounting claw, after which, a new cooling fan 6 is mounted in the fan case 7.

Subsequently, by pivotally mounting the fan case 7 in the housing portion 5 by engaging the hinge shaft 24 in the hinge receiving grooves 11 formed in the hook portions 12 of the housing portion 5 and, in this condition, causing the fan case 7 to pivot downward centered on the hinge shaft 24, fitting the lock portion 25 into the fitting portion 13, and pushing it in, it is possible to mount and secure the fan case 7 in the housing portion 5, as shown in FIG. 3.

In this way, in the heretofore described embodiment, in the condition in which the fan case 7 is pivotally held in the housing portion 5 of the case half-body 23 with the hinge mechanism 8, it is possible to easily mount the fan case 7 in the housing portion 5 by causing the fan case 7 to turn to the bottom portion side of the housing portion 5, fitting the lock portion 25 into the fitting portion 13.

Moreover, in this case, it is possible to hold the fan case 7 without it coming out of the housing portion 5 simply by fitting the lock portion 25 provided in the fan case 7 in the fitting portion 13 of the housing portion 5. Thus, it is possible to simplify the configuration in comparison with the case in which the fan case is slidably held, and fixed with a fan cover, as in the previously described heretofore known example, and it is also possible to improve operability when mounting.

Also, in the case too of removing the fan case 7 from the housing portion 5 in order to replace the cooling fan 6, it is possible to cause the fan case 7 to turn upward simply by inserting the tip of a tool such as a screwdriver from the lock release opening 14, bending the U-shaped lock portion 25, and releasing its fitting in the fitting portion 13. This makes it is possible to easily remove the fan case 7 from the housing portion 5 by disengaging the hinge shaft 24 from the hinge receiving grooves 11 of the hook portions 12 in the condition of FIG. 4.

In the heretofore described embodiment, a description has been given of a case of pivotally mounting the fan case 7 in which the cooling fan 6 is mounted in the housing portion, via the hinge mechanism 8. However, the instant invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to omit the hinge shaft 24 formed on the to end of the vertical plate portion 23 b of the supporting member 23, by forming reinforcing rib portions 31 in positions in front of and behind the supporting member 23, and using them as an engagement portion, as shown in FIG. 7.

By omitting the hook portions 12 of the housing portion 5 and, in a condition in which the fan case 7 is tilted left side up, by moving the vertical plate portion 23 b of the supporting member 23 downward while bringing it into contact with the left side wall 2 a forming the housing portion 5, causing the lock portion 25 side to turn to the bottom surface side of the housing portion 5, and fitting the lock portion 25 in the fitting portion 13, when the bottom surface of the supporting member 23 side of the fan case 7 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the housing portion 5, as shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to keep the fan case 7 secured in the housing portion 5, against upward movement, by biasing the vertical plate portion 23 b of the supporting member 23 against the left side wall 2 a using the springiness of the lock portion 25.

Then, in the case of removing the fan case 7 from the housing portion 5, by inserting the tip of a tool such as a screwdriver in the lock release opening 14 and bending the lock portion 25, in the same way as in the previously described embodiment, and, in a condition in which it is separated from the fitting portion 13, gripping the lock portion 25 sides and lifting it up, it is possible, by causing the fan case 7 to pivot with the vertical plate portion 23 b of the supporting member 23 still engaged with the left side wall 2 a, and moving the fan case 7 upward, as it is, in FIG. 8, to easily remove the fan case 7 from the housing portion 5.

In this instance, by forming a comparatively low projection on the left side wall of the housing portion 5 in such a way as to come into contact from above with the too end of the vertical plate portion 23 b of the supporting member 23 in toe condition in which the fan case 7 is housed, in order to reliably prevent escape of the fan case 7 from the housing portion 5 to the exterior, it is possible, in the event that the fan case 7 tends to move upward, to reliably prevent the upward movement by the top end of the vertical plate portion 23 b engaging with the projection.

In the heretofore described embodiments, a description has been given of a case in which the main body 2 of the inverter device 1 is configured of the case half-bodies 2A and 2B. However, the invention is not limited to this, and it may also be formed as a box shape wherein at least one side surface is openable and closable. Also, the formation position of the housing portion 5 not being limited to the top end portion of the main body 2, it may be formed in a side surface other than the top end portion.

Although not shown, the fan is suitably adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power. Also, in the heretofore described embodiments, a description has been given of a case in which an inverter device is applied as the power converting device but, not being limited to this, the invention can also be applied to another type device, such as an uninterruptible power supply or the like.

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-079393 filed on Mar. 27, 2009 is incorporated as a reference. 

1. A power converting device, comprising: a main body having a heat producing part housed therein; a fan case having a cooling fan therein, said cooling fan cooling the heat producing part provided in the main body; a housing portion in the main body which houses the fan case; and connection features for interconnecting the fan case and the housing portion so that the fan case is pivotally attached to and detached from the housing portion.
 2. The power converting device according to claim 1, wherein the connection features comprise: a hinge portion formed on one side surface of the fan case, a flexible lock portion formed on another side surface opposing the hinge portion, a hook portion which pivotably engages the hinge portion formed on one side surface of the housing portion, and a fitting portion in which the lock portion fits formed on a side surface opposing the hook portions.
 3. The power converting device according to claim 1, wherein the connection features comprise: an engagement portion comprising a supporting member including a projecting plate portion parallel to the top surface of the fan case, a vertical plate portion extending upward from a free end of the projecting plate portion, and rib portions sandwiching the supporting member, formed on one side surface of the fan case; a flexible lock portion formed on another side surface opposing the engagement portion; and a fitting portion in which the lock portion fits, formed on a side surface opposing the another side surface, the engagement portion being engaged and held in one side surface of the housing portion.
 4. The power converting device according to claim 1, wherein the fan case has opposed ends and the connection features are provided at the opposite ends.
 5. The power converting device according to claim 4, wherein one of the connection features comprises a resilient flexible pawl which engages in a recess formed in the housing portion.
 6. The power converting device according to claim 5, wherein a second of the connection features comprises a hinge structure, a first part of which is provided on the fan case and a second part of which is provided on the housing portion.
 7. The power converting device according to claim 5, wherein a second of the connection features comprises a flat surface on the fan case to be pressed against a flat surface of the housing portion by a biasing force imparted on the fan case by a springiness of the pawl when engaged in the recess. 